The Invisible Work of Holding It Together

Have you ever ended a workday feeling emotionally drained - even though your to-do list wasn’t particularly overwhelming?

That exhaustion isn’t just from tasks. It’s from the invisible work of managing emotions, maintaining workplace relationships, and constantly navigating unspoken expectations.

The work that doesn’t make it into performance reviews:

?? Staying late to support a struggling teammate, even when you’re running on empty

?? Smiling and saying “I’m fine” when you’re anything but

?? Managing your tone in emails so you don’t come across as difficult

?? Being the go-to person for advice, encouragement, or last-minute requests because people know you’ll step up

It’s the work that often goes unnoticed but adds up over time, leading to burnout, resentment, and emotional fatigue.

Why Do We Do This?

For many of us, this habit starts early. We learn that being a “good employee” means being reliable, easy to work with, and willing to go the extra mile - even at our own expense.

Workplaces reward productivity, but rarely acknowledge the mental and emotional effort behind it. The result? We internalise the idea that our well-being is secondary to our output.

But here’s the truth: The ability to ‘hold it together’ is not an infinite resource.

Breaking the Cycle

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the unspoken responsibilities of emotional labour, you’re not alone. The good news? There are ways to create healthier boundaries without compromising your work ethic.

Here’s what’s helped me:

?? Recognising my limits – Just because I can take on more doesn’t mean I should.

?? Setting micro-boundaries – Example: No checking emails after a certain hour. Small changes lead to big results.

?? Letting go of guilt – Saying “no” isn’t a rejection; it’s a form of self-care.

?? Normalising conversations about well-being. If workplaces can discuss KPIs openly, they should be able to discuss burnout, too.

Your Mental Health Matters

The truth is, companies don’t burn out - people do. And if we don’t set boundaries for ourselves, no one else will.

So tell me, what’s one boundary you’ve set (or want to set) to protect your mental health at work? Let’s start normalising these conversations.????

#WorkplaceWellness #EmotionalLabour #MentalHealthAtWork #WorkLifeBalance #BurnoutPrevention